Printer slotter, combined pull roll, and gate control



Sept. 16, 1941. T s FlTCHETT 2,256,244

PRINTER SLOTTER, COMBINED FULL ROLL, AND GATE CONTROL Filed Jan. 14,1941 4 Sheets-Sheet l MTA/ss Sept. 16,' 1941. T. s. FlTcHETT PRINTERSLOTTER, COMBINED FULL ROLL, AND GATE CONTROL Filed Jan. 14,4 1941 4Sheebs--Slleell 2 *j 7;/oMA6 Sept. l16, 1941. T s, FlTCHETT 2,256,244

PRINTER SLOTTER,l COMBINED l-ULL ROLL, lxND GATE CONTROL Filed Jan. 14,1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 /gF/"HOMAS S. /L-/TCHETT W/TNE'S 2P' @EQ @my .www@35h15 M Sept. 16', 1941.

T. S. FITCHETT PRINTER SLOTTER, COMBINED FUEL ROLL, AND GATE CONTROL fFiled Jan. i4, 1941 4 sheets-shleet 4 gmc/nm THOMAS FTCHETT Wir/ve: s

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Patented Sept. 16, 1941 PRIWTER SLOTTER, COMBINED PULL ROLL,

AND GATE CONTROL Thomas S. Fitchett, Glen Arm, Md., assignor to F. X.Hooper Company, Glen Arm, Md., a corporation of Maryland ApplicationJanuary 14, 1941, Serial No. 374,338

l Claims. y (Cl. 271-40) The invention relates to printer slotters usedfor printing and slotting carton blanks which are usually of double facecorrugated board or the like, corrugated board being most generally usedfor this purpose. This material comes in six different standardthicknesses, varying in actual measurement from one-eighth tothree-eighths ofan inch but designated by letter, AA indicates doubledouble, 5%; inch. On account of the use of these different thicknessesfrequent adjustment' In the operation of the modern machine oftheprinter slotter type comparatively high speeds are employed and theblanks are accelerated in a space of a few inches by the reciprocatingfeed' and pull rollers from no speed to a speed of about one thousandfeet per minute. 'Ihe initial feeding of the blanks to the pull rollersis a positive operation performed by the reciprocating feedl for theblanks and slippage at the pull rolls, due to too slight tension of therolls Would cause interference between the successive blanks Withstoppage of the machine and consequent loss of time of the machine andthe attendant and Waste of material. On the other hand, too much tensionbetween the rolls, i. e., too great compression, injures the corrugatedboard.

In order to limit the feed to a single blank at each reciprocation ofthe feed bar, the machines are provided at the rear of the feed tablewith a plurality of gates, spaced above the surface of the table by aninterval corresponding to or slightly exceeding the thickness of theblanks being used. Thus both the gates and the pull rolls must beadjusted to each change of the blanks being fed to correspond to thechange of thickness. This adjustment is in accordance with the existingpractice usually performed separately as to each gate, and becauseof thehigh speed at which the blanks are presented and passed through themachine, it must be determined and maintained with extreme accuracy.With the types of machines in use it is necessary for the mechanic, whenadjusting the gates, to see the bottom operative ends of the gates whichare usually obscured by the ends of the blanks on the table,

hence such changes of adjustment must be performed When the table isclear of blanks, and, if adjustment becomes necessary when a stack ofblanks is on the machine they must be removed for this purpose. Onaccount of the Weight of the blanks, this often requires the combinedefforts of two attendants and a corresponding loss of time.

Aside from the difficulties incident to obtaining access to theoperative ends of the gates to determine the adjustment, separateadjustment of the pull rolls is also necessary. The adjustment of eachgate in addition to the separate adjustment of one pull roll to conformto changes from one thickness of blank to another, requires aconsiderable amount of time and effort on the part of the mechanicskilled in this art and a corresponding expense. It is further to benoted that during this period the machine itself is necessarily idleinvolving a still further loss of emciency of the plant.

A further interesting condition bearing on the subject of the adjustmentof these parts is that the gates under the present practice are seldomadjusted with the desired degree of uniformity as to the spacing of therespective gates from the table and the adjustment of the gates inprecise conformance to the adjustment of the pull rolls is also of moreunusual occurrence.

Under these circumstances, the blanks tend to become displaced, stuckand injured in various Ways resulting in a defective product and notinfrequently in an extensive loss of time of the machine and theoperator or in injury to the machine.

It is a matter of considerable interest that the adjustment of the gripof the pull rolls must correspond to the adjustment of the gates inchanging from one thickness of corrugated board to another particularlyWith the comparatively thin material, but the change of adjustment ofthe gates as the thickness of the board increases may to considerableadvantage be greater than the change of adjustment of the rolls, givingfree passage of the thicker board. This is because in the gripping ofthe corrugated board to provide the rapid acceleration described thecorrugated board is compressed and the rolls, being preferf ablyresilient, are likewise compressed, and this adjustment must be accurateto give the proper grip to prevent slippage, and at the same time toavoid crushing of the board. On the other hand, the spacing of the gatesfrom the table is determined by the condition that the gates must permitfree passage of each over-lying indicator'onthe outside 0f the machine.`indicator is closely related to the handle by which the 'adjustment isoperated so that the extent of "th'e adjustment can-be closely observedby the operator in moving 'the handle. Itis of import- Vancev that noobservation or measurement Vby the Yoperator of the actual position ofthe gates or Advantages obtained by the improved coni struction whichare regarded as of importance are that instead of two, three or evenfour adjustments, i. e., of the separate gates and of the respectiveends of one pull-roll, a single adjustment is provided whereby bothgates and both ends of the pull roll are moved simultaneously by asingle operation and in proper proportion, the extent of the adjustmentrequired to conform the parts adjusted to the standard thickness ofcorrugated board being determined by an This of the rolls is necessaryor even desirable. The

importance ofthe saving thus accomplished is believed to be apparent.

In the accompanying drawings, I have illus- 'trated' so much of aprinter slotter to which the invention has been applied as is necessaryto a full comprehension of the nature and operation of the same.`

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevation, on a re1- atively large scale,of the pull rolls andgates with the adjacent portions of the printerslotter looking fromA the left side of the machine as viewed by theoperator facing the infeed end, the control or adjustment featurereferred' to being included.

, Figf2 is a perspective View looking at the front or infeed 'end ofthemachine and the side of the same on the operators left. f f

Fig. 3 is a perspective view lookingl from the front center of themachine outwardly and back'- wardly toward the left.

Fig.' l is a horizontal section on the line 4-4 in Fig. 3Y lookingdownwardly.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the top pull roll, gates, feed table, etc., theframe being sectioned and broken away immediately above the top pull roshaft for convenience of illustration.

Referring to the drawings by numerals each '.of which islto indicate thesame or similar parts in the different gures, the machine as showncomprises side frames` I and 2, feed table 3, at

lthe front and gear housing 4 at Athe left side.

The top pull roll which is the one which, in

accordance withA the preferred form of the invention illustrated, isadjustable as hereinafter described, is indicated by reference character5, `and the co-operating bottom pull roll by reference/'character 6. l

The pressure rolls, printing cylinders, slotting and scoring rolls backof the pull rolls may be in ,accordance with regular practice, andhaving no bearing on the present invention are not illustrated, `a fullillustration of a printer slotter suitable to the applicationpf theinvention being ,found ,in Patent'No, 2Vl9l,988 Henry B. Greenonrtheshaft I4 and secured thereto, said shaft I4 being above the shaft II anddirectly back of lthe shaft 5 on which the top pull roll 5 is mounted.The shaft I4 is mounted in bearing I5 shown in plan in Fig. 5. Saidshaft I4 carries at its opposite end to that on which the gear I2 ismounted, i. e., at its left end, a second gear I2' which meshes withgear I6 mounted on the shaft 5 of the top pull roll 5 and secured tosaid shaft. Thus the gear I6 drives the top pull roll Ythe adjustment ofwhich is to be furtherdis- 'cussed.

speed as the bottom pull roll 6.'

The shaft 5 is mounted at its opposite ends in suitable bearings inswinging arms II and I'I shownl in'brok'en lines in side elevation inFig. 1 and in top plan in Fig. 5. The arm II is mounted to swing aboutthe shaft I4 and the arm I1 is similarly mounted on a stud I8 seated inthe side frame I and in axial .alignment with the stud shaft I4 which isseated in the side frame 2 on the opposite side of the machine. The stud,I 8 and the stud shaft I4 Vare relatively short, as shown, to preventinterference with the'rlls. They are further so arranged as to carry thearms I'I and .I 'I' on the inside of the frame vmembers I and 2.

The stud shaft I4 and the stud I8 being in alignment the topV pull roll5 and its driving gear I6 and the shaft 5' on which the gear and toppull roll are mounted is swung about the center of the shaft I4 andincidentally of the stud I8 to move the pull roll 5 up and down in theadjustment of said pull roll relatively to the lower pull roll 6 andhence tothe thickness of the corrugated paper blanks being operatedupon. 'I'he structure described provides for said adjustment, the gearsI2' and I6 remaining in normal mesh in any 'and all positions of the toppull roll 5 and its gear I 6, maintaining the operative connection ofboth rolls 5 and 6 to and with pulley 1.

Reference has already been made to table 3 at the front of themachinewhich is intendedv to support the stacks of corrugated box.blanksto be operated upon. This table is provided with a high speedreciprocating feed bar 2D having suitable ngers 2I for gripping the edgeof the bottom blank to advance each bottom blank in turn into the gripof the pull roll. This feed motion is well known in this general type ofmachine, hence the mechanism for operating it is not fully illustrated.

According to the existing practice this feed bar 2Il may be reciprocatedat the rate of about three hundred strokes per minute. Y

At the rear of the table the machine is provided with upper and lowertransverse bars 22 and 24 extending across the machine from one sideframe I to the other side frame 2. These transverse bars 22 and 24 areconnected together, in the form of the invention shown, by verticaluprights 25 and 26 at the opposite sides of the machine. These uprights25 and 26 lie at against the respective side frames I and 2, beingmounted to slidein upper and lower guides 21 and 21 at the left side ofthe machine secured to side frame I on the inner face of the same andidentical guides similarly indicated at the other side of the machineand secured to the inner face of side frames 2. The lower guide at theright side of the machine is not apparent in any of the figures, it is,however, precisely similar to guide 21.

Referring now to Figs. 2 and 5, the gates 30 and 3| are mounted in slideways 32 secured to the upper transverse bar 22 by means of brackets 33and clamping screws 34 so that they may, if desired, be slid along thetransverse bars. The lower ends of the slide ways or guides 32 restagainst the lower transverse bar 24.

'I'he gates 30 and 3| are adjustable vertically by means of adjustingscrews 35 swiveled in the brackets 33 and threaded into the upper endsof the gates 30, 3|.

It will also be noted that the rear hopper sides 31 and 3B best shown inFig. 5 are mounted on the top transverse bar 22 and secured thereto bymeans of brackets 39 and clamping screws 4i).

It is of interest that hopper sides 31 and 38 move up and down with theadjustment of the gates as hereinafter described, the rear portion ofthe bottom edge at 4|, Fig. 1 being on a level with the lower end 32 ofthe gates 36, 3|.

As the gates must always be adjusted upwardly from the table by adistance equal to or greater than the thickness of the blanks beingused, it is obvious that the bottom blank will always be free of thesides of the hopper, this gives increased freedom of feeding. As alreadypointed out, the cross bars 22, 24 and the Vertical slide bars 25 and 26to which the cross bars are secured, as best shown in Fig. 3, constitutea carrier 45 on which the gates 3|), 3| are mounted and on which therear hopper sides 31, 38 may also be mounted. The rear hopper sides 42,see Fig. 2, are mounted on the table as shown.

The carrier 45 mounted to slide up and down as best illustrated in Fig.3, is provided at each end of said carrier immediately adjacent thecorresponding side frames with follower arms in the form of upper andlower plates 46 and 41, see particularly Fig. 1, the upper plate 46 alsobeing clearly shown in Fig. 3. In accordance with the details shown thearms 46 and 41 are secured to the top bar 22 being positioned by theupper and lower surfaces of said bar as in any suitable manner toco-operate with the eccentric to be described. These arms 46 and 41 areprovided with bearing blocks 46 and 41. These arms 46 and 41 and thebearing blocks 46' and 41 are duplicated on the opposite'sides of themachine. The members 46, 41 are shown in Fig. 3 immediately adjacent theside frame the opposite side of the mahcine being a duplicate of theportion shown in Fig. 3 as to these elements.

The bearing blocks 46 and 41' at each side of the machine which arepreferably horizontalengage the upper and lower tangent points ofcorresponding eccentrics 48, see Figs. 1 and 4, it being noted in Fig. 1that the transverse bar 22 is cut away at 48' to accommodate -theeccentric.

The eccentrics 48 of which there are two, one on each side of themachine closely adjacent the side frames and 2 are mounted on andsecured to the transverse eccentric shaft 56 which extends across themachine from side to side being best shown in Figs. 4 and 5. This shaftis mounted in suitable bearings 5| in the said side frames and extendsout through the gear casing 4 asbest shown in Fig. 5.

'I'he said eccentric shaft 50 is shown as of reduced diameter at 50outside the casing 4 and has secured to its outer end an operatinghandle 52 shown in Fig. 5 and also shown broken away in Fig. 1. Thisshaft has secured to its outer portion as outside the casing, an arcuateindicator member 53, see Figs. 1 and 5, connected to the shaft by an arm54 on a hub 54 on said shaft, and this indicator 53 slides over astationary arcuate scale plate 55, best shown in Fig. 1, the indicator53 being moved over the scale as the lever 52 is operated, turning theshaft 50.

1t is important to note that the indicator 53 which is rigid with theshaft 50 is locked in position relatively to the arcuate scale 55 thuslocking the entire adjustment by means of a clamping block 56 as shownin Fig. 5, to which pressure is applied by means of a screw 56 operatedby clamping arm 51.

The koperation of lever 52, rotating shaft 50, moves the carrier 45 upand down by the operation of the eccentrics 48 which eccentrics are inprecisely uniform angular arrangement and alignment on and about shaft5!) which is supported in fixed bearings in the opposite side frames.

The eccentrics have a very slight throw possibly not more thank threeeighths to half an inch, the maximum useful motion of the carrier 45 andthe gates 36, 3| being the -thickness of the thickest blank to beoperated upon.

The scale 55 is graduated in fractions of an inch or other units, therespective graduations indicating the positions of the gates suitable tooperation upon corrugated board of these respective thicknesses, i. e.,when the gates are in desired position for operating on board of anypredetermined thickness the top edge 53 of the indicator .53 is on thecorresponding graduation. These graduations may be marked with thethickness dimension corresponding to the thickness of the board or withany suitable character for this purpose or the graduations may be usedalone.

it may be noted at this point that the board of the res -ectivethicknesses is known more generally by arbitrary symbols than by thedimensions above given which are approximate rather than precise.Y Thesetting of the gates above the table 3 is not usually the exactthickness of the board but a slightly higher position found to besuitable to the operation on the thickness of the board indicated.

The top pull roll 5 or more particularly the shaft 5 thereof has beendescribed as mounted in suitable bearings in the arms |1, l1 at theopposite ends of the machine which arms are pivotally mounted on theshaft I4 and stud shaft |8 seated in the opposite side frames in axialalignment, so that these arms swing about the center of the stud shaftsI4 and |8. The stud shaft |4 carries the gears l2 and l2', by whichlatter gear, the gear I6 on the shaft 5 of roll 5 is driven, and hencesaid roll 5.k

The arms |1 and |1 are provided each at its forward end with a lug 6U,see Fig. 1. These lugs are suspended from or connected by bolts 6| tothe transverse bar 22 at the corresponding ends of said bar. The upperend of one said bolt is shown at 6| in Fig. 3 where it extends upwardlymounted on there vis a nut 65 tightened up against the bot.V

tom ofthe transverse bar 22 or more particularly the arm 41 secured tothe bottom surface of the same. .l

It will be noted in Fig. 1 that these bolts.6| are rather looselyrelated to the corresponding holes in the lugs 60. It will also be notedthat the lever arm from the center of shaft I4 tothe center. of shaft isconsiderably less than the lever arm from the center of shaft |4 to thebolts 6| and hence the Vertical motion of the top pull roll 5 is lessthan that of the bolt'and less than that of the carriage 45 and the toptransverse bar 22 and hence less than the motion of the gates inadjusting. Y

. Itrwill be noted that the carriage 45 being moved to its lowest pointbefore the blanks are placed on the table and before the machine isready for operation, the gates 30, 3| may be adjusted by means lof thescrews 35 downwardly against the table 3 and suitably clamped by thelock screws 35 provided for this purpose. The gates can be thus broughtinto exact horizontal alignment of their Alower ends with each other andin all subsequent adjustment they may be made to retain exactly the samerelation.

In the operation of the machine a stack `of blanks of aV suitablethickness is placed on the table 3between the hopper sides 31, 38 and42, 42', the front edges of the blanks bearing against the gates 30, 3|,

The relation of the pull roll 5 to the gates 30,

3| is then adjusted, usually by means of the nuts 62, nuts 64, 64', 65,66, being used for more extensive adjustment. Springs 63 provide upwardyielding of top pull.. roll 5, in response to the tightening of the nuts62, holding the parts in adjusted position. The relation of the gates30, 3|,Y to the top pull roll can be determined in the initialadjustment of each machine. It will be noted that the operative relationof the top pull roll 5 to the gates 30, 3| which preferably have astandard Vposition on the carriage, is determined by the adjustment ofnut 62 on the tension member or bolt 6| which bolt may for longadjustments be adjusted relative to transverse bar 22, by nuts 65 and66.

When these adjustments have been determined,

`the gates 30, 3| and their guideways 32 are preferablyprovided withmark 32 on the gate and 32', 32" on the guideways, whereby two positionsof the gates may be indicated, the lower adjustment being for theregular quality of board of any thickness to which Ythe carriage 45 isadjusted and the upper adjustment for occasional use with rough or poorquality board, operating at the same adjustment of the pull rolls andcarriage. The gates can be moved from one said position 32", 32' to theother and back to the original position without loss of thepredetermined relation of pull roll adjustment to gate adjustment.

. The blanks of any particular weight of coi'-, 75.

rugated board or the like' as AA corrugated board which is, about threeeighths of an inch thick having beenplaced on .the table 3 withtheirfront edges againstrthe gates 30, 3|, as aforesaid, and their side edgesbearing on the sides 31, 3,6 and 42,' 42 of the hopper which is adjustf'able. for this purpose, the Vclamping arm 51 is moved tol release theclamping yblock 56 by turning the screw56. The arm 52 is then moved tobring the upper indicating edge 53 of the indicator 53 against the 1%,mark on the scale arc 55 corresponding to thethickness of corrugatedboard to be used. In this way the gates 30, 3| each of them at exactlythe same level are brought immediately to the proper adjustment foradmitting to the pull rolls. 5 and 6, a single line of blanks ofthisthickness to be fed suce cessively by the reciprocating feed bar 20and lingers 2|. By the same motion of the arm 52 the upper roll 5 of thepull rolls 5, 6 is moved to exactly the correct position relatively tothe lower roll 6 for gripping and advancing these blanks with thenecessary degree of acceleration and without gripping the blanks withsuch great tension as to injure them. The arm 51 and `screw 56 are thenoperated to clamp the indicator, and the shaft 50 which controls theposition of the gates and the upper pull roll.

When the quantity of blanks to be Arun of the thickness for whichadjustment has been made has been passed through the machine, and blanksof another thickness `are to be run, the machine is instantaneouslyadjusted by releasing the gripping or clamping block 56 by way of theoperating handle 51. The handle 52 is then turned to bring the indicator53 to the adjustment indicated on the scale arc 55 as corresponding tothe thickness of the board now selected to .be run. This bringsinstantaneously the two gates and the pull roll 5 to exactly the properadjustment. The arm 51 is then opere ated to clamp indicator53 and theshaft 5t, the gates 35, 3| and the upper pullroll 5 in the new positionof adjustment while the next set of blanks of the particular thicknessfor which adjustment has been made is passed through the machine.

If it is desired to operate on rough or ragged blanks the gates 3|), 3|can be moved by means of screws 35 to the upper adjustment indicated bygage marks 32" and 32, and when the better quality of smooth blanks areto be operated upon the gates can be returned to normal position byreversingthe operation of screw 35. Y It is of interest that the pullroll carriers or arms I1, |1' are directly connected to the gatecarriage 45 at; both ends of the pull roll and at both sides of themachine by an adjustable ten'- sion member as indicated and that theeccentrics 48 on shaft 5U are mounted in rigidlysupported bearings atthe opposite sides of the machine. These eccentrics which operate thecarriage 45 are thus rigidly supported on and located adjacent theopposite side frames and each eccentric engages a bearing block rigidlysecured to the carriage 45, being in the form of machine shown,supported on the upper transverse bar 22 which is rigidly connected atboth ends to the uprights 25 and 26 which are mounted in twin slides 21and 21 rigidly and directly secured tol the 010-' posite side frames.

The features described are subject to rearrangement and variation ofdesign the important accomplishment ofthe invention being the provisionof an absolutely accurate adjustment 'of the gates, .proportionate toand in exact correspondence witha :simultaneous and correspondadjustmentof the pull rolls, the combined adjustment vor control of the pull rollgrip and the spacing of the gates being operated by a single control andlocked by a single clamping vr'ne'chanis'rn.- It is also of interestthat the said adjustments are preferably proportionate rather thanexactly equal. The pull roll requires arcurate adjustment to determinethe tension applied to the blanks without crushing the blanks and it isof advantage to increase the spacing of the Vgates from-the table morerapidly than the spacing ofthe rolls is increased as it gives freedom ofmovement of the blanks of the thicker variety without danger of doublefeeding as more specically pointed out in the preamble.

By thus providing an instantaneous and simultaneous and extremelyaccurate adjustment of the'pull rolls and gates in direct correspondenceleachfto and with the other. a very considerable loss of time of themechanical attendant and a corresponding loss of time of the machine andthe factory space and hence a considerable expense vformerly incident toseparate adjustment of the individual elements is saved, and furthervarious 'diiiicultiea loss of efiiciency of the machine and delays dueto improper adjustment, 4displacement of and destruction .of blanks andthe like are avoided because of the elimination of the variousinaccuracies of the adjustment of gates and rolls which have resultedfrom the separate manual adjustment of these members as previouslypracticed.

I have thus described a single embodiment of my invention thedescription being speciiic and in detail in order that the manner ofconstructing, applying, operating and using the invention may be fullyunderstood, however, the specic terms are used descriptively rather thanin detail, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: Y

1. In a machine of the type described .having a feed ta-ble, gates,co-operating upper and lower pull rolls and a reciprocating feed, acarriage above the table and having the gates secured thereto, the gateshaving means for adjustment relatively to the carriage toward and fromthe table means for adjusting the carriage toward and from the table togive al corresponding adjustment of the gates, moving `carriers-for thetop roll bearings and means connecting the carriers to the carriagewhereby the adjustment of the gates by moving said carriage gives acorresponding and similar adjustment of the top roll providing forgripping and advancing by the rolls of the blanks of the thicknesses towhich th gates are adjusted.

2. In .a printer slotter having a feed table for a stack of blanks, areciprocating feed and a pair 'of co-operating pull' rolls for advancingand accelerating the blanks, gates spaced upwardly from the table forlimiting the feed te a line of single blanks taken successively from thebottom of the stack, a carriage on which the gat-es are mounted, guidingmeans whereby the carriage is confined to an upright path, the upperpull roll having bearings with carriers therefor mounted to move on apredetermined approximately upright path whereby said pull roll ismovable toward and from the lower pull roll to vvary the grip oftherolls, means adjusting :said pull roll carriers and pull rollrelativelyl to said carriage whereby the pull rolls are caused to gripin operative relation the blanks of the thickness operatively passed andcontrolled by the gates, means for adjusting the carriage on its pathmoving the movable pull roll and said gates simultaneously and incorrespondence with each other, giving .a plurality of positions ofadjustment, in each of which the gates operatively-control and pass, andthe rollsgri-p in operative relation blanks of a predeterminedthickness, each said position of adjustment providing for treatment oiblanks of a different thickness.

3. In a printer slotter having a feed table for a stack of blanks,A areciprocating feed and a pair of co-operating pull rolls for advancingand accelerating the blanks, gates spaced upwardly from the table forlimiting the feed to a line of single blanks taken successively from thebottom of the stack, a carriage on which the gates `are mounted, guidingmeans whereby the carriage is confined to a predetermined path, one pullroll being movable and having bearings with 4carriers therefor mountedto move on a predetermined approximately upright path` whereby said pullroll is movable toward and from-'the other pull roll to vary the griprof the rolls, means determining the relation of` said pull roll carriersand movable pull roll andof `said gates relatively to said carriagewhereby the pull rolls are caused to grip in operative relation theblanks of the thickness operatively passed and controlledby the gates,means for adjusting the carriage on its path moving the movable pullroll toward and from the other pull roll in the direction of gripping byvsaid rolls, and moving ysaid. gates, toward and from the table,simultaneously and in correspondence with each other, giving a pluralityof positions of adjustment' in each of which the gates operativelycontrol kand pass, and the rolls grip in operative relation blanks of apre-determined thickness, each said position of adjustment providing fortreatment of a different known thickness of blanks anda lscale forindicating said positions olf adjustment said scale being readable interms of the thicknessrof the blanks to which the rolls and gate areadjusted at each said position, means for changing and adjusting therelation between said movable roll and said gates, and means forclamping said adjustment and said carriage and hence said movable rolland said gates in adjusted position. y 4. In a printer slotter having afeed table for a stack of blanks, a reciprocating feed and a pair vofco-operating upper and lower pull rolls for advancing and acceleratingthe `blanks from said stack, gates spaced above the table for limitingthe feed to a line of single blanks taken successively from the bottomof the stack by said reciprocating feed, a carriage on which the gatesare mounted extending transversely above the table and having uprightguides and means for adjusting said carriage along said4 guides, theupper of said rolls having carriers .in whichgits bearings are mounted,said carriers being in the form of pivotally controlled arms for guidingand supporting the upper roll on a short path which is approximatelyvertical, means for driving said upper pull roll in all positionsonsaidpath,means for connecting said arms to said carriage to move therewith,said roll bearings being between the pivot and said connection. wherebythe motion of the gates is greater rthan that of :said

.upper roll.

5. In a printer slotter having a feed table for a stack of .blanks,'areciprocating feed and a pair ofA co-operating upper and lower pullrollsfor advancing and accelerating the-blanks from saidstack, gates spacedabove the table for limiting the feed to a line of single blanks taken Ysuccessively from the bottom of the stack by said -reciprocating feed, acarriage on which 'said gates are mounted, 'said carriage extendingacross the machine and having vertical guides on the respective sideframes, the upper pull roll having carriers in'which its bearingsaremounted to move toward and from the r lower roll, means for drivingthe upper pull roll in allv positions on said path, ymeansforlconnecting the said carriers tosaid carriage to move therewith andwith said moving means simultaneously to move the carriage along itspath, moving said upper roll and said', gates simultaneously and incorrespondence with each other, to each of a set of positions ofadjustment, in` whichv the rolls op-v eratively 4engage and the gatesoperatively control the blanks, the different positions being adapted todifferent standard thicknesses vof blanks and clamping means forclamping said carriage and vgates and said upper roll simultaneously ineach position of adjustmen-t and Vmeans for indicating said positions ofadjustment. I

6. In a printer slotter having a feed table for astack of blanks, areciprocating feed and a rpair of upper and lower co-operating pullrolls for advancing and accelerating the blanks, andV gates spacedYabove the table for limitingthe feed to a line of single blanks takensuccessively `from-the bottom of said stackby said reciprocating feed, acarriage above the table on which said gates are mounted inpredetermined rela- Vton to the table said `carriage and gates beingmovable on a path extending toward and from the table, one-said pullroll having movable carriersv for its bearingsrwhereby it is mounted formovement toward and from theother roll inthe direction of the gripping.action of said rolls, means for driving said movable roll in i-tsvariouspositions on said path, means for adjusting the movable rollandthe gates relatively to the carriage andinto operative relation to ablank of a thickness to beoperated on by the machine, and meansconnecting the movable pull roll to said carriage to move in directVcorrespondence therewith, means for `adjusting said carriage along itssaid path to move` simultaneously vthe movable pull roll andgates inclose correspondenceY with each other to a number of predeterminedpositions of adjustment for operative vengagement with blanks of acorresponding number Vof different thicknesses and means forclampingsaid carriage and roll and Ygates in each of said positions. A

7. In a machine of the type described for feeding corrugated paperblanks, a table for supporting a stack of blanks, aV reciprocating feedand pull rolls for advancing andV accelerating the blanks, gates spacedabove the table for limitving the feed to aline of single' blanksltakenfrom the bottom of the stack -by saidfeed, a'carriage above thetable on whichthe gates are mounted, said 'carriage having guidessecured to the opposite side frames whereby` the carriage is confined toan upright path, a drive gear for therupper pull roll pivotally mountedcarriers for the bearings of said upper pull rollmounted to swing insubstantially vertical direction about the aXis'oi' said gear, a camshaft extending across the machine and having :bearings in the oppositeside frames, eccentrics on saidshaft adjacent said 'side frames, andbearingmeans on said carriage at `each side of the machine engaging saideccentrics, means connectingv said carriers to said carriage at eachside of the machine at a point 4on the opposite side of the bearing ofsaid pull roll from the center of said drive gear, adjusting meanswhereby the rolls are caused to grip in operative relation the blanks towhich the gates are adjusted and means for adjusting said carriagemoving the movable roll and said gates simultaneously toward and fromthe other pull roll and saidV table respectively, and in correspondence,the motion of'. the gates being lin excess of that of the movable roll.

- w 8. In a machine of the type described, having a table for a stack ofblanks and a reciprocating feed, a pair ofco-operating pull rollslandgates spaced above the table to ,limit the passage of blanks to a singleblank advanced at each reciprocation of vthe feed, a carriage for thegates to which the gates are secured, said carriage being above thetable, movable carriers for the bearings of one pull roll providingformotion of saidroll in thedirection of. gripping toward and from-theotherroller of Vsaid pair, means for moving the carriage and the gatesthereon toward and from the table and means connecting the'rcarriers tosaid carriage' whereby the movable roll approachesl the other of saidpair as the' gates descend and is retracted from said other rollras thegates are raised providing a series o'f positionsrof adjustment of saidrollsand gates to blanks of different thicknesses; j Y

` 9.'In a machine of the type described, having a table for a stack ofblanks and a reciprocating feed, a pair of co-operating pull rolls,andgates spaced above the table to limit the passage of blanks to asingle blank advanced at each reciprocation of the feed, a carriage forthe gates to which the gates are secured, said carriage being above thetable, movable carriers for the bearings of one pull roll providing formotion of said roll in the direction of gripping toward and'from rtheother roller of said' pair, means for moving the carriage Vand the gatesthereon toward and from the table and means connecting the carriersYtofsaid carriage whereby the movable roll approaches the other of saidpair as the gates descend 4and is retracted from saidother roll as thegates are raised providing a series of positions of adjustment of saidrolls and gates to blanks of different thicknesses and means wherebythemotion of the movable roll is caused to be less than that of thecarriage and gates. Y

10. In a machine of the type described, having a table for a stack ofblanks and a reciprocating feed,'a pair of vco-operating pull rolls andgates spaced above the table to limit the passageof blanks to a singleblank advanced at each reciprocation of the feed, a Vcarriage for thegates to which the gates are secured, said carriage being above thetable, movable carriers for the bearings of one pull roll providing formotion of said roll, in the direction of gripping, toward and from theother roll of said pair, means for moving the carriage and the gatesthereon toward and from the table and means connecting the carriers tosaid carriage whereby the movable roll approaches the other roll of saidpair as the gates descend and is retracted from said other roll as thegates are raised, providing a series of positions of adjustment adaptedto blanks of different thicknesses and a single clamping means forlocking the carriage and gates and the movable roll in each adjustedposition.

11. In a machine of the type described, having a table for a stack ofblanks and a reciprocating feed, a pair of co-operating pull rolls andgates spaced above the table to limit the passage of blanks to a singleblank advanced at each reciprocation of the feed, a carriage for thegates to which the gates are secured, said carriage being above thetable, movable carriers for the bearings of one pull roll providing formotion of said roll in the direction of gripping toward and from theother roll of said pair, means for moving the carriage and the gatesthereon toward and from the table and means connecting the carriers tosaid carriage to move therewith whereby the movable roll approaches theother of said pair as the gates descend and is retracted from other saidroll as the gates are raised, providing a series of positions ofadjustment to blanks of different thicknesses, said connection of theroll carrier to the carriage providing a motion of the roll slightlyless than that of the carriage and gates whereby the gates and rolls aremaintained in exact operative relation at all times to blanks of thesame thickness.

12. In a machine of the type described, having a table for a stack ofblanks and a reciprocating feed, a pair of co-operating pull rolls andgates spaced above the table to limit the passage of blanks to a singleblank advanced at each reciprocation of the feed, a carriage for thegates to which the gates are secured, said carriage being above thetable, movable carriers for the bearings of one pull roll providing formotion of said roll in the direction of gripping toward and from theother roll of said pair, means for moving the carriage and the gatesthereon toward and from the table and means connecting the carriers tosaid carriage to move therewith whereby the movable roll approaches theother of said pair as the gates descend and is retracted from said otherroll as the gates are raised providing a series of positions ofadjustment to blanks of different thicknesses, said-connection of theroll carrier to the carriage providing a motion of the roll slightlyless than that of the carriage and gates whereby the gates and rolls aremaintained in exact operative relation at all times to blanks of thesame thickness, and clamping means for locking the carriage and gateswith the movable roll in each adjusted position, and indicating meansfor said respective adjustments.

13. In a machine of the type described having a table, pull rolls, areciprocating feed and gates, a carriage on which the gates are mounted,pivotally mounted carriers for the top pull rolls, means for moving thecarriage to adjust the gates and means connecting said carriers to thecarriage at a point of greater radius about said pivot than the radiusat which the pull roll is mounted whereby said latter pull roll moveswith the gates but to a less extent.

14. In a machine of the type described having a table, pull rolls, gatesand a reciprocating feed, a vertically adjustable carriage for saidgates, hopper sides supported on said carriage and having their bottomedges normally in a horizontal plane approximately the plane of thelower ends of the gates, whereby the hopper sides are normally spacedupwardly from the table by a distance approximately equal to the spacingof the gates from the table, providing for free advance of the bottomblank of a stack on said table.

l5. In a machine of the type described having a feed table, gates spacedabove the table, cooperating upper and lower pull rolls and a feed forremoving blanks from the bottom of a pile on the table and advancingthem beneath said gates Which limit the blanks advanced to a line ofsingle blanks, a carriage above the table and having the gates mountedthereon, means for adjusting said carriage toward and from the table togive a corresponding adjustment of the gates, moving carriers forbearings of one pull roll and means connecting said carriers to thecarriage whereby the adjustment of the gates by moving said carriagegives a corresponding and similar adjustment of said pull roll providingfor gripping and advancing by the rolls of the blanks of the thicknessesto which the gates are adjusted, said carriers being mounted to swing onan approximately vertical arc, a drive gear concentric with. said arcand a drive gear on said roll meshing with said concentric gear wherebythe drive of said roll is continuous and uniform in all positions ofadjustment.

THOMAS S. FITCI-IETT.

